Sir

I Troubled you with a Letter Some time go, which I hope came Safe to your Hands; I have now only to let you know, that Lord Hobart's Entertainment was last Wednesday, when your Sister's & Nephew's [‘kinsman’s’] Letters were Read, and Receiv’d with an Unanimous approbation; I’m Sorry Mr Harry Drake's application shou’d give you or Lady Drake any Uneasiness; I do assure you there is no Occasion for it. None but Good Dr Creed* as I know of, is in his Interest, and He like the Æthiopian, can't Change his Hue –

I am with great Respect, Sir

Your most obliged and Humble Servant

N Rowe When you have Read the Enclosed & my Lady, be pleas’d to Send it to the young Gentleman.**

If you wrote a Word or two to Mr Edgcombe & Mr Wyatt, ‘twou’d be not amiss.

* Mr Harry Drake's application was for the position of MP granted by Lady Drake on FHD's behalf to her brother Samuel Heathcote. Dr Creed, the vicar of Buckland Monachorum and a freeholder of Bere Alston, was a frequent cause of trouble.

** The letter was to be forwarded to Samuel Heathcote.

Added on reverse, possibly in FHD's hand: ‘Mr Rowe. Feb:20.1740.’

Added in pencil: ‘to Mr Heathcote.

Dear Sir

I Received your Favour of the 15th with much pleasure, it being always one to me to hear of your Welfare, which None more Sincerely wishes – Whenever your Studys will permit, a Flight from Bennet College will be very agreable here –

I am very Glad you have Some of your Winchester School Fellows with you, that Early acquaintance Carrys a Friendship with it as lasting as Life, and often very useful – I am Charm’d with your Reflection on that Contemptible Vice,* it Destroys more than the Locusts of Ægypt, and has Marr’d more bright Genius's than Mahomet's paradice – the Fatal Effects I’m at present too Sensible of: I’m perswaded you know how to preserve the proper Decorums with the Young Gentleman you hint at, Though his Taste is Disagreable to you, as I pray God it always may – Silenus is more a Beast, than the Ass He's put upon.